NASHVILLE, Tennessee -- Tennessee State men’s basketball coach Travis Williams has announced the signing
of four additional student-athletes to join the Tigers next season.
Ugo Mmonu
(Decatur, Ga.), Kennedy Eubanks (Clemson, S.C.), Jaleel Queary (Nashville) and
Jaylen Reid (Rockhill, S.C.) join previously inked Jamontae Davis (Nashville),
Jamonte Graham (Nashville), and Rhyan Townes (Memphis) to round out the 2013
recruiting class.
“The goal
was to keep elevating the program in every aspect imaginable, and we did that by
adding the versatility, talent and skill sets these guys bring to the program,”
Williams said. “They all come from very successful programs where they have won
and were key contributors to their teams. They have achieved great academic
accomplishments in the classroom and I am looking forward to them establishing a
great relationship with the coaching staff, university, community, alumni, fans,
and the city of Nashville. We feel that they can add to an already strong
nucleus of returning players.”
A 6-7,
200-pound forward, Mmonu will join the TSU team this fall after a senior year at
Greenforest Christian Academy. During his senior year, Mmonu helped GCA win the
Georgia State Championship in the Class A Private division while seeing playing
time at every position but center. He was also named to Atlanta Journal
Constitution All-Metro Team, GA Sportswriters Team, and All-State team after
averaging 12 points, six rebounds and three assists per contest. His accolades
got him looks from Auburn, Cincinnati, Clemson, Georgia, Georgia Tech and
Mississippi State, but signed with the Tigers. Mmonu also excelled in the
classroom where he held a 3.5 GPA.
“Ugo is a
proven winner and very multi-talented. He can play multiple positions, either at
the forward or guard, and his athleticism fits our style of play. He can shoot
the three, put it on the floor and finish at the basket. His best basketball
days are ahead of him." Williams said.
Eubanks is a
6-6 wing player who will come to TSU after playing at Jacksonville College in
Texas and being selected by JucoJunction as a top 150 player. Last season, he
averaged 11 points and 5.8 rebounds per contest in leading the Jaguars to a 22-9
record. While attending Pendleton High School in S.C., he was an All-Region and
All-State selection and was runner-up in the state’s North-South All-Star
Tournament Slam Dunk Contest. He also competed on the track and field team while
in high school, taking part in the long, high and triple jump events. Eubanks
sported a strong 3.0 GPA at Jacksonville College and will major in Business
while at TSU.
“Eubanks
will be very versatile for us with his ability to play numerous positions and
fit our style of play, especially considering how we attack in transition on
offense and how we play defense,” Williams said. “He has good size and
athleticism and is very capable of putting the ball on floor, attacking the rim,
and shooting from three. He comes from one of the toughest junior college
leagues in the country, can play a number of positions, and his experience,
leadership, motor, and enthusiasm on the defensive end can really help
us.”
Queary is
another former JUCO player who will join the Tigers next season after attending
junior college at Lawson State in Birmingham, Ala. where he averaged 7.3 points,
3.2 assists and 4.6 rebounds for the Cougars. Coming to TSU will be a homecoming
of sorts for Queary as he starred at Maplewood High School in Nashville for four
seasons. He was a Tennessee Top 50 player according to Max Preps coming out of
high school and was named the District 10-AA MVP and Class AA Metro MVP
following his senior season. Queary stands 6-2 and will play combo guard for the
Tigers this upcoming year.
“I’ve always
admired Jaleel since his days at Maplewood High School and we are really excited
to bring him back home to keep our program moving forward,” Williams said. “He
is a very athletic, strong, tough, and physical guard who is capable of creating
his own shots, or attacking the rim. He can also make plays for himself and his
teammates. He plays with a high motor, loves playing defense and rebounds well
from the guard position which fits the bill of what we are doing here
defensively.”
A
6-7,185-pound forward, Reid hails from Rock Hill High School where he garnered a
three-star rating by ESPN. He earned the ranking by helping head coach Eric
Rollins and the Bearcats to a 16-6 record while averaging 16 points, nine
rebounds, three steals and two assists per contest. He was an All-Area,
All-Region and All-State selection as a senior and represented his school in the
North Carolina – South Carolina All-Star Game. He had received offers from High
Point, Kent State, Austin Peay, Southeast Missouri State, Miami (Ohio),
Jacksonville and Winthrop, but chose to sign with TSU. Reid plans to choose a
major in either business or political science this fall.
“Reid is
versatile, has a tremendous upside, an unbelievable work ethic and passion for
the game. He is a very talented young man with the ability to shoot the three,
score off of the dribble, and attack the basket in half court or transition. His
ability to rebound and play defense are also pluses,” Williams said.
The TSU coaching staff will have a little
over five months to teach the system to the incoming players before the Tigers
tip-off next season in year two under Williams.
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